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Bought a SCAG Liberty Z This Morning - Delivery Tomorrow. Maintenance Tips?
Posted on 5/24/23 at 3:58 pm
Posted on 5/24/23 at 3:58 pm
I've been push mowing my yard for a few years and I'm finally over it. Decided on a 36" SCAG Liberty Z, which I hope will last me a long time. Looking forward to getting it delivered tomorrow.
Before these last couple of years, I had a guy cutting my grass for a while, but I honestly like maintaining my yard myself. It also gives me a chance to look at the condition of everything around the exterior of my house and yard.
Anyway, I'm sort of clueless on routine maintenance I'll need to do. Obviously I will take a look at the owner's manual, but curious if you guys had any tips from your experiences.
Before these last couple of years, I had a guy cutting my grass for a while, but I honestly like maintaining my yard myself. It also gives me a chance to look at the condition of everything around the exterior of my house and yard.
Anyway, I'm sort of clueless on routine maintenance I'll need to do. Obviously I will take a look at the owner's manual, but curious if you guys had any tips from your experiences.
13
Posted on 5/24/23 at 4:00 pm to lnomm34
Not so
Subtle brag
Subtle brag
Posted on 5/24/23 at 4:00 pm to lnomm34
go get a grease gun
go get a set of chocks, or a chain fall, or some jacks so that you can change the blades
go get a set of chocks, or a chain fall, or some jacks so that you can change the blades
Posted on 5/24/23 at 4:34 pm to lnomm34
Always keep a spare belt, set of wheel bearings, spindle, idler pulley.
Buy a grease gun. Depending upon your motor, I only run 15w40 rotella in the old scag with the kawasaki. Only run mobil1 0w40 in anything with a briggs motor.
Check your filter, you can get oversized versions with the same flow rate and bypass pressure for usually 20% of the oem filters.
I change air filter, deck belt, and blades once a year. But I'm mowing about 1500 acres a season. And I don't stop for anything short of a concrete block
When you finally kill the front tires... Go solid tire. When you finally kill the rear, get some with grip.
I spend about 150 bucks a year on maintenance. Spindles last 3 years or so.
Proper zero turns for home use are the definition of overkill. And it's great.
Even I just question the downvotes?
You can fix anything on a zero turn that actually breaks in under an hour as long as you have the parts on hand. Keep the things I have listed and your mower will never be down for more than an hour. I don't even keep spark plugs on hand but then again I do run wide open throttle.
Buy a grease gun. Depending upon your motor, I only run 15w40 rotella in the old scag with the kawasaki. Only run mobil1 0w40 in anything with a briggs motor.
Check your filter, you can get oversized versions with the same flow rate and bypass pressure for usually 20% of the oem filters.
I change air filter, deck belt, and blades once a year. But I'm mowing about 1500 acres a season. And I don't stop for anything short of a concrete block
When you finally kill the front tires... Go solid tire. When you finally kill the rear, get some with grip.
I spend about 150 bucks a year on maintenance. Spindles last 3 years or so.
Proper zero turns for home use are the definition of overkill. And it's great.
Even I just question the downvotes?
You can fix anything on a zero turn that actually breaks in under an hour as long as you have the parts on hand. Keep the things I have listed and your mower will never be down for more than an hour. I don't even keep spark plugs on hand but then again I do run wide open throttle.
This post was edited on 5/24/23 at 5:05 pm
Posted on 5/24/23 at 5:56 pm to lnomm34
Not sure how the blades are fastened on the Scag, but on the Gravely, it's just a large nut. Get a pneumatic impact or one of the heavy duty battery impacts to get them on and off. A normal screw driving Dewalt impact won't budge the nuts. If you try to use a wrench, you have to figure out how to prevent the blades from turning while you loosen the nut. I'm able to pull the blades and sharpen them, then put them back on in about 15-20 min.
You need to sharpen them when you notice stragglers after you mow. My lawn mower was so dull I might have well been mowing with a spinning piece of rebar. After sharpening them, nothing is left behind. I have rocks in my yard and sure as hell hit one about every time I mow, so I had to get efficient at sharpening.
Other than that, just stay on top of the maintenance oil change and air filter cleaning. The Kawasaki engine on mine has held up well for about 8 years now. Honestly wish the thing would bite the dust because I want a suspension seat and I won't put one on this mower. I get beat to hell on my property and it takes about 2 hours of riding that thing to get the whole property mowed.
You need to sharpen them when you notice stragglers after you mow. My lawn mower was so dull I might have well been mowing with a spinning piece of rebar. After sharpening them, nothing is left behind. I have rocks in my yard and sure as hell hit one about every time I mow, so I had to get efficient at sharpening.
Other than that, just stay on top of the maintenance oil change and air filter cleaning. The Kawasaki engine on mine has held up well for about 8 years now. Honestly wish the thing would bite the dust because I want a suspension seat and I won't put one on this mower. I get beat to hell on my property and it takes about 2 hours of riding that thing to get the whole property mowed.
This post was edited on 5/24/23 at 5:58 pm
Posted on 5/24/23 at 7:03 pm to lnomm34
3/8 cordless impact is great for removing and installing blades
Posted on 5/24/23 at 7:56 pm to lnomm34
20W50 Motor Oil in the Kawasaki Engine. 20hrs for break in and 50hours or once a year for reg oil changes. Spindles are sealed bearings so you pretty much just run the until they're screaming then replace the bearings. Change the air filter annually.
Keep the deck clean, blow it off after mowing and just make sure it's not getting clogged underneath with wet grass. You can probably just change the blades once a year and you'll be good.
The Liberty Z is an awesome residential Z and has so few issues that bring it back to the shop for repair. You'll be happy for many years with this purchase.
Keep the deck clean, blow it off after mowing and just make sure it's not getting clogged underneath with wet grass. You can probably just change the blades once a year and you'll be good.
The Liberty Z is an awesome residential Z and has so few issues that bring it back to the shop for repair. You'll be happy for many years with this purchase.
Posted on 5/25/23 at 7:17 am to lnomm34
Change the engine oil in the first 10 hours.
Every 50 hours thereafter.
I would recommend Kawasaki 20w50.
Shot of grease in fittings at oil change.
Inspect/blowout/replace air filter.
I have a Scag Patriot with 300 hours and it has been trouble free. I have sharpened/replaced the blades many times.
Still on the same belt.
Take covers/guards off belt pulley’s and blow out clippings off top of deck and belt run.
Every 50 hours thereafter.
I would recommend Kawasaki 20w50.
Shot of grease in fittings at oil change.
Inspect/blowout/replace air filter.
I have a Scag Patriot with 300 hours and it has been trouble free. I have sharpened/replaced the blades many times.
Still on the same belt.
Take covers/guards off belt pulley’s and blow out clippings off top of deck and belt run.
Posted on 5/25/23 at 10:24 am to lnomm34
My dream Mower
Posted on 5/25/23 at 5:26 pm to lnomm34
I’d say sharpest blades Atleast once a season.
Every 50 hours change oil and filter, air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs.
Usually can get these things all in a package together if you know your mower serial.
I do most of that stuff once a year. Blades need leveling every so often depending how rough I get in the back yard.
Every 50 hours change oil and filter, air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs.
Usually can get these things all in a package together if you know your mower serial.
I do most of that stuff once a year. Blades need leveling every so often depending how rough I get in the back yard.
Posted on 5/25/23 at 7:04 pm to lnomm34
I’ve got a 7 yr old Patriot Scag. You’ll want an impact gun to change the blades. I don’t use a jack. I just pull it back with the rops and put cinder blocks under the tires. Not osha approved but I’m not dumb about it.
I’ve replaced the starter and the pto switch. Those pto switches are the same in all the brands and it’s easy and cheap to fix. Love my mower. I cut 6 acres with mine.
I’ve replaced the starter and the pto switch. Those pto switches are the same in all the brands and it’s easy and cheap to fix. Love my mower. I cut 6 acres with mine.
Posted on 5/27/23 at 9:32 am to lnomm34
I know this is overkill, but a few years back, I bought a blade balancer. When I pull the blades off to sharpen, I always balance the blades. It's also surprising to find how some blade manufacturers do a pretty poor job of ensuring brand new blades are balanced before leaving the factory.
Blade balancer...
Blade balancer...
Posted on 5/27/23 at 12:28 pm to lnomm34
I came here to look for tomato plant tips and saw this post and figured I would offer a "tip", others may not agree with. I just got off my Liberty Z after cutting my yard. I LOVE it, BTW.
First thing I did was take that big plastic "whatchamacallit" off the deck where the clippings, (and stuff), fly out, which I guess is a safety feature. I found it just got in the way, especially in tight places.
I know you probably would hesitate to do so, being all shiny and new BUT, keep the thought, as you may see what I mean in the future.
Only other tip I can offer, I haven't seen mentioned is wash the grass off under the deck with a hose. The clippings build up and can cause issues.
Enjoy that fabulous new toy.
First thing I did was take that big plastic "whatchamacallit" off the deck where the clippings, (and stuff), fly out, which I guess is a safety feature. I found it just got in the way, especially in tight places.
I know you probably would hesitate to do so, being all shiny and new BUT, keep the thought, as you may see what I mean in the future.
Only other tip I can offer, I haven't seen mentioned is wash the grass off under the deck with a hose. The clippings build up and can cause issues.
Enjoy that fabulous new toy.
Posted on 5/27/23 at 2:26 pm to lnomm34
quote:
Decided on a 36" SCAG Liberty Z,
I own this one as well. I've had it for almost 5 years. Rock solid.
I change my own oil. For everything else, I service it once a year and have the blades sharpened annually.
Congratulations on your purchase. It's a great machine.
This post was edited on 5/27/23 at 2:27 pm
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